Islamabad: (Parliament Times) Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum launched “Pakistan-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Business Council†in a ceremony held wherein representative Ambassadors of Permanent Member Countries of SCO and members of The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry were present to support the establishment of the Pak-SCO Business Council. The Business Council is established keeping in view the upcoming presence of Pakistan as a permanent member country in the Summit of Heads of States that is scheduled to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan in June this year. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is larger regional grouping and emerging alliance of countries of the region for peace, prosperity and development. While speaking on the occasion, H.E. Mr. Sherali Jononov, Ambassador of Republic of Tajikistan explained the core values of the SCO and the functioning of the organization. He said that the grouping is focusing more on strengthening mutual confidence, good neighborly relations among the member countries, promoting effective trade and economy among the member states. H.E Mr. Sun Weidong, Ambassador, People’s Republic of China said that SCO is established based on essence of Shanghai Spirit which is about mutual trust, equality mutual trust and have a win win cooperation among states. The core value has help safeguarding the regional security, stability and promoting regional development hence the SCO has became a unique model of efficient cooperation by paying equal attention simultaneously to economic development and security cooperation. H.E. Mr. Alexey Yurievich Dedov, , Ambassador of Russian Federation highlighted the special features of the SCO including the Business Council, Interbank Consortium and other related structures within the organization for the promotion of the trade, business and cooperation between the countries. Mr. Furkat Sadikov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Pakistan said that Uzbekistan fully supported Pakistan’s presence in the multilateral organization and further said that presence of the country in the organization will bid well for the promotion of multilateral cooperation including business to business linkages. Mr. Pervez LALA, President, Pak-SCO Business Council in his opening remarks said that Business community is ready to explore the possibilities of the cooperation with the counterparts in the member countries of SCO. In his vote of thanks, Mr. Ahmad Lone, Secretary General- Pak-SCO Business Council, in his vote of thanks appreciated the efforts of the Ambassadors of the member states in SCO for the phenomenal work in enhancing business to business and especially people to people contacts amongst the states. He further assured the working of the Council in solid footing and in a manner for finding concrete grounds to improve the trade relations between countries. He lauded the efforts of Mr. Asif Noor, Chief Coordinator, Pak-SCO Business Council for organizing such an event. Ms. Farhat Asif, President, Pakistan Shanghai Cooperation Organization Friendship Forum and Founding President Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies in her welcome remarks explained the objectives of the Friendship Forum wherein she highlighted about the seven E’s including economy, entrepreneurship, energy, education, environment, expedition and empowerment as priority areas for “connecting communities and providing opportunitiesâ€. Mr. Malik Sohail Hussain, Chairman Coordination, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other leading officer bearers were present on the occasion. Ambassadors of various countries, Diplomats, Representatives of several chamber of Commerce were also present on the occasion hence lauded the effort, supported the initiative and promoted the idea for enhancing trade with the brotherly countries.
